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Introduction: A large portion of the Italian built heritage is characterized by a significant seismic vulnerability since many structures were designed with outdated criteria, i.e., without accounting for seismic actions. This aspect is particularly relevant for strategic structures and infrastructures, whose functionalities are crucial in case of seismic events. Objective: The main aim of the present paper is to share the key findings related to the seismic vulnerability assessment of the National Institute for the Study and Treatment of Cancer (IRCCS) “Giovanni Pascale Foundation” in Naples. In particular, the main evidences could be easily extended to existing hospitals realized in the last century, with the main reference to: construction techniques, quality of constructional material, overt and convert seismic vulnerabilities and possible intervention strategies for risk mitigation. Methods: In the present paper, the assessment methodologies adopted for such a strategic hospital complex are provided, focusing in particular on: i. preliminary research of original design documents and on-site investigation for determining constructional details; ii. material tests on structural elements; iii. vulnerability seismic assessment by means of non-linear FE analyses (push-over and capacity spectrum method); iv. recommendations on retrofitting measures and cost estimations. Results: The conducted study puts into clear evidence the inadequacy of the investigated buildings to face the design seismic actions provided by the current Italian code and thus showed the significant seismic vulnerabilities affecting the Institute “G. Pascale Foundation” of Naples. Among these, particular attention has also been focused on the so-called intrinsic vulnerabilities, namely the ones not measurable explicitly and interesting non-structural elements (e.g., connection of shelves, stained glass windows, facilities, etc.). Conclusion: The presented case study highlights the strong seismic vulnerability affecting structures realized in the past century, despite their strategic functions. On the whole, the examined structures can be considered as representative of this building typology, and the adopted calculation criteria, as well as the assumptions of the assessment process, could be easily extended to similar case studies.

The present paper focuses on traffic load definition for road bridge design according to past Italian codes. In particular, starting from the first code of ’33 up to the current Technical Standard for Constructions (NTC2018), several different approaches have been assumed by the codes. Hence, a historical review is firstly proposed and each code is analyzed together with the proposed load schemes. Such a review has allowed the definition of a parametric investigation on typical Italian r.c. decks. In particular, bending moments due to the traffic loads for which the bridges were conceived are investigated, and thus a preliminary estimation of past-to-current design bending moment ratios is carried out with reference to continuous beams.

Seismic performance and dynamic characteristics of bridge structures are highly influenced by their geometric properties. This paper aims at studying the impact of substructure irregularity on the seismic vulnerability of multicolumn-bent short-span bridges by estimating the capacity of bridge components. For this purpose, incremental dynamic analyses have been performed on two five-span bridge configurations, chosen according to a real case study. The studied bridges present supported on seat-type abutments and differ according to pier heights: regular and irregular substructures with equal and different heights, respectively, have been considered. Pounding of the bridge superstructure portion and nonlinear backfill soil behavior are accounted for in nonlinear time history analyses. Spectral acceleration of the first fundamental period and peak ground velocity are considered as intensity measures, while failure criteria consisted on maximum columns drift ratio and deck unseating at abutments. The performed analyses revealed a response of the irregular bridge significantly worser than the regular one. Besides, the two failure criteria affect the seismic vulnerability of the regular bridge almost equally and for the irregular bridge, column damage is always recognized to be the main reason of the structural collapse.

The paper deals with the preservation of Italian bridge assets, which may suffer structural deficiencies mainly due to the state of conservation, as well as to outdated adopted design criteria. A systematic procedure aimed at assessing the structural risk affecting existing bridges has been recently introduced by the “Italian Guidelines for classifying, managing the risk, assessing the structural safety and monitoring existing bridges”. The procedure at issue entails the assessment of hazard, vulnerability and exposure based on typological data, which are combined in order to obtain an attention class in order to define the future measures to be adopted. In this paper, the application of such a procedure on a sample of 75 bridges of Caserta, Italy, is presented and the main results are shown. In the whole, the study confirms the necessity to adopt far-sighting and smart policies by handling bodies. On the other hand, some critical aspects in relation to possible missing data in existing censuses are addressed and possible solutions and alternative methods are discussed.

The present paper deals with new management policies adopted for the smart handling of the statal road bridge asset in the Campania region, Italy. The research group of the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, as member of the FABRE consortium, provided a scientific support to the handling body for applying to a number of current bridges the multi-level approach proposed in the recently enacted Italian “Guidelines for classifying and managing the risk, assessing the safety and monitoring existing bridges”. In the present study, the main outcomes obtained in the first phase of this activity are presented with reference to about 20 bridges. Hence, a characterization of the entire sample of interest (80 bridges) is firstly proposed and then the preliminary outcome obtained during the visual surveys are presented and discussed. The main causes of deterioration and damage phenomena, as well as the general conservation state of existing bridges, can be identified based on the presented results.

The paper focuses on masonry arch bridges, which represent a significant portion of the entire infrastructural asset of both road and railway networks, despite their ancientness. The study is part of a wider activity that the Province of Caserta and the Department of Architecture and Industrial Design of the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli” are jointly carrying on. Such a collaboration is aimed at defining and applying methodologies for a correct and smart handling of road bridges spread on the territory of the Caserta district, whose infrastructural heritage counts about 900 bridges. Within this activity, preliminary data concerning the typological characteristics of about 100 masonry arch bridges were collected. These data allowed to recognize typical features distinguishing masonry arch bridges of this area, which can be considered representative also at a national level. Then, evidence from some in-situ inspections performed on 50 bridges are also presented. In particular, the main structural issues have been surveyed and a statistical analysis of the observed defects has been carried out. The study highlighted the main structural issues typically affecting existing masonry arch bridges, as well as the need to adopt far-sighting managing policies for administrative bodies called to handle wide infrastructural heritages.

The study deals with an existing RC bridge in Province of Caserta, Italy, realized between ’50s and ’60s of the last century, the so-called Agnena bridge. The bridge, whose functionality is strategic for the local road network, in the recent past has been affected by relevant geological issues, which provoked a significant crack pattern in the deck elements and abutments. Nevertheless, the social and economic issues related to the closure of such a strategic infrastructure, has led the competent administration (Province of Caserta) to carry out additional assessments with the aim to guarantee, even in a reduced condition, its functionality pending the realization of a final intervention (i.e. demolition and reconstruction). At this aim, the recently enacted Italian Guidelines for existing bridges have been taken as reference for the traffic load definition. Hence, an analytical assessment has been carried out by adopting a numerical FE Model. Then, it has been verified that a limited transitibility could be permitted on the structure, thanks to a provisional intervention and a monitoring system. On the whole, the proposed interpretation of the main Italian legislative documents could be profitably adopted for similar cases needing a reduced operatively for limited periods.

Introduction: The conservation and preservation of existing buildings, in particular public infrastructures, is currently a significant issue in Italy and Europe, considering their strategic role and the risk represented by human losses, management issues and also economic disruption in case of collapse. In this context, the interest in conservation is not restricted to monumental or artistical buildings but also includes the several buildings composing the Italian infrastructural heritage, which in many cases are made of reinforced concrete and show signs of ageing after half a century and more from their construction. Methods: On the basis of these premises, in the present paper, a preliminary investigation on an infrastructural case study located in Naples port is presented. Such a study is part of a research activity aimed at defining critical structural issues of the central administrative building of the Central Tyrrhenian Sea Port System Authority. Results: A system of high-sensitivity and low-cost MEMS acceleration sensors were installed on the structure, with the aim of investigating its dynamic behaviour. A Finite Element model of the building was created, including information about material properties and cross-section details from prior experimental activities. A model updating procedure was carried out, based on the dynamic data collected by the monitoring system and post-processed to estimate the fundamental frequencies. Conclusion: This has allowed highlighting the main features of the dynamic response of the building, and the critical role played by deformability of infill panels and floors on the modal properties of the structure.